BSc. or graduate degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent
5+ years of Applications Engineering or Technical Support experience
3+ years of people management experience
Strong troubleshooting skills for complex production issues
Ability to prioritize effectively in high-pressure situations
Proven ability to work cross-functionally on new product rollouts
Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences
Experience or strong interest in robotics or autonomous systems
Responsibilities
Lead and grow the Applications Engineering team through coaching and performance management
Oversee the triage process and maintain backlog quality for software issues
Collaborate with Engineering on field usage analysis and performance metrics
Work with cross-functional teams to resolve field and production issues quickly
Conduct alpha and beta trials of new features at customer sites
Foster a culture of continuous improvement with AI tools and workflow automation
Communicate critical field issues to stakeholders at all levels
Deliver training on robot system applications and field best practices
Benefits
Opportunity to build and shape a dynamic team
Access to cutting-edge technology in robotics
Collaborative cross-functional work environment
Engagement in solving real-world technical challenges
Focus on continuous improvement and professional development
Full Job Description
About this role:
Avidbots is seeking a passionate, self-driven Manager, Applications Engineering to lead our Applications Engineering team. The ideal candidate is an experienced engineering leader with a strong track record of bridging software development and real-world field applications. You have hands-on experience supporting production software at scale and excel at collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions.
If you thrive on solving complex technical challenges, working across teams, and driving issues to resolution in fast-paced environments, this role is for you. You will lead a team of Application Engineers to investigate field-reported robotic application issues, analyze robot usage behaviors, and lead engineering prototype trials. You will create impact by ensuring Avidbots' production software is optimally applied, sustained, and continuously improved across our growing global fleet of autonomous cleaning robots.
This position reports to the Senior Director, Software Engineering.
How you will make a difference:
Lead, build, and grow a team of Applications Engineers through technical direction, coaching, hiring, and performance management
Lead the triage process and maintain backlog quality for robot software/system issues reported from the field and production
Work closely with Engineering to help analyze robot field usage and performance metrics to support issue investigation and identify opportunities for product improvement
Partner with Engineering, Product, Technical Services, Customer Success, and Production to ensure that field and production issues are resolved in a timely manner
Work closely with engineering to conduct alpha and beta trials of new features across customer sites and verticals
Build a continuous improvement culture by leveraging AI tools, automating workflows, leading root cause analysis and team retrospectives
Communicate critical field issues to cross-functional stakeholders, conveying complex technical concepts to varying levels of the organization
Deliver internal training on robot systems applications and field best practices to technical support and other operations teams
Required Qualifications:
BSc. or graduate degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent
5+ years of industry experience in Applications Engineering, Technical Support, or related
3+ years of people leadership experience (managing Applications engineering or QA teams)
Strong background in troubleshooting and resolving complex, production-scale application issues
Demonstrated ability to critically analyze and make prioritization decisions in high-stakes, time-sensitive situations with minimal oversight
Proven success partnering cross-functionally to support new product and feature rollouts
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Experience with robotics or autonomous systems, or a strong interest in the field
Enjoys working in small teams with big dreams
Preferred Qualifications:
Proficiency with Linux-based operating systems
Familiar with programming in C++, Python, and Bash scripting
Experience with incident and issue management via ticketing systems (Jira or similar) and collaboration tools (Confluence, Google Suite)
Experience with Robot Operating System (ROS)
Experience leading offshore or remote engineering teams
Passionate about mobile robotics
About Avidbots
Avidbots is a robotics company that specializes in developing autonomous floor-cleaning robots for commercial and industrial use. The company's flagship product is the Neo, a self-driving robot that uses advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to navigate complex environments and clean floors with high precision. Avidbots was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario.
